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Other Newspapers from Fort Wayne, Indiana

Other Editions from Monday, October 23, 1899

Fort Wayne Sentinel, The (Newspaper) - October 23, 1899, Fort Wayne, Indiana iff J I THE FORT WAYNE EVENING SENTINEL MONDAY, OCT. 23, 1899. r. ELECTRIC WORKS, BRIEF RESUME OF THE SUM- MER'S BUSINESS. THE WORKS EMPLOYS 400 MEN DOES A1 BUSINESS OF MANY THOUSANDS. BIG WAREHOUSE BUSINESS THE WABASH HANDLES 63 CAR LOADS SATURDAY. The FortWayne Electric works, un- der the present management, has been in active operation over five months and so phenomenal has been the growth of the business that a brief statement of the situation at the works will be very interesting to most of the readers of The Sentinel. The new organization assumed con trol last May. Previous to tlirt time the Fort Wayne corporation was in bad shape, financially and otherwise. In fact, the business was placed in the hands of receivers to be wound up. Many of its employes had either resigned or been discharged for lack of business, until the total number remaining on the pay roll did not quite reach fifty. About this time several of the persons prominently connected with the works during Mr. McDonald's administration not only failed to give any material assist- ance, but used their efforts to still further cripple the business, and, if possible, have the plant moved out of town, which, to say the least, would have been a great calamity to Fort Wayne. la fact, the plant would have been dismantled and moved out of town had it not been for the stand taken by Mr. Wood, who owned the several patents under which the con- cern was operating, he refusing to assign these patents to the purchas- ers unless they agreed to operate the works here in Fort Wayne and as- suring the rathat if they did this they would find the plant a very valuable investment, thus preserving the es- tablishment to this city. That he was correct in his opinion is attestec by the past four months' experience, Last May the Fort Wayne Electric woiks was incorporated with a capi- tal of fully paid in. The officers are Henry C. Paul, president John W. White and Charles S. Bash directors; F. S. Hunting, treasurer and sales manager; Delbert C. Davis assistant treasurer, while James J Wood was retained not only as chie: electrician and mechanical engineer but also was given full charge of th factory management, a position which he has successfully filled foi so many years. During the past four months the company's business has continued ti increase enormously, requiring ex tensive repairs to the plant and the addition of several thousand dollars worth of new machinery, while the product of several of the depart incuts, including the meter depart mtnt. instrument department and Ir.rap department, have been in crefsed nearly five times, until to clay these departments are doingmor Hism-ss than ever before in the his tory of the several companies. THs enormous increase of businesi largely due to the geniu: and inventive ability of Mr. Wood who hrs brought out several new in ventions and perfected them in thii 011 space of time. These includ< n new arc lamp for the city of Chi cago, which under trial has proved so successful that five large order for these lamps have been placed the company; and, in fact, thi lamp bids fair to revolutionize th arc lighting business. The next thin; m order is a new focusing arc lamp which is exceedingly ornamental in appearance, and is intended princi polly for indoor illumination. Mr. 'harles Guild, manager of the Jenney Electric Light and Power company, was so well pleased with the opera- ion of this lamp that bis company gave an order for UO of them to re- lace all the lamps now in use on the ommercial circuit in town, which will be done as soon as material foi heir construction can 'be received. This information will certainly be very gratifying to the local com- pany's customers, proving to them beyond question that the company lias its customers' interests at heart, when of its own accord it is willing o incur the enormous expense of hanging all the lamps on the com- mercial circuit in order that its Bat- ons may have the very best and atest devices the market affords. In addition to the lamp and meter msiness there have been great im- irovements made along other lines, and Mr. Wood now has applications lending for patents on other new de- rices, nearly all of which have been ilaced on the market during the past ew months, and which include an LUtomatic motor starter with over and under release; new methods of mounting arc cut-outs and primary 'use boxes, which not only increase heir insulation resistance, but de- crease the fire risk and their tendency o short-circuit or burn out, as well as making the devices much simpler o install. These, and many other improve- ments which have been made in lamp suspension devices, in the transfor- mer department and dynamo depart- ments, have resulted in securing for this company the largest amount of jusiness ever received in the same length of time in the history of the woiks, the company now having on its books nearly active cus- tomers, whose present unfilled orders amount to several hundred thousand dollars, or enough work to keep the factory running at full time from now until January 1, 1900. These orders include contracts from Vin- cennes, Ind.; Knoxville, Pa.; El Paso Tex.; Chicago, and a large number o1 smaller plants all over the country It certainly speaks volumes for the satisfactory service given by the Wood systems of apparatus, which have been on the market for over twenty years, and shows conclusively that in design, efficiency, workman ship and finish there is little furthei to be desired; as when starting as they did a few months ago at the commencement of the summer, the dullest time of the year for the elec trical business, and under the mos adverse circumstances, they were enabled for the last two months to do nearly 50 per cent, more busines than was ever done in the same tim by the old company. And what i very important, especially to "th workmen, is the fact that they now pay their employes promptly on th 5th and 20th of each month, no at tempt being made to hold back thei pay as heretofore, for one or tw months; while the profits of the busi ness are sufficient to warrant the dis counting of all bills for cash. In fac( it does not take much of a prophe to predict that inside of a year thi business will have grown to such pro portions as to require the employ ment of between 600 and men and, in fact, were it not for the diffi culty in getting castings and mate rial, instead of nearly 400 men the would have not less than 500 men a work today, as the orders alread booked certainly warrant it. The works have also establishe local offices in the following cities New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Syr acuse, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, S Louis, Chicago, St. Paul and Gran Rapids, Mich. onably a difference of electrical po- ential betwen the two ends of the ridge, and that, therefore, there ,ust be an electrical current flowing ver the structure. This may cause of some of the iron sup- ports. The current comes from the lectric wires that furnish motive ower to the many cars, and the pro- essor is disposed to think that there s a real danger of the bridge giving way some day. While he does not redict that there will be a disaster f this kind, or even assert that it is ikely, he considers that it would be wise thing for a commission to be pointed to consider this mater of lectrolytic corrosion in the bridge. The professor reminds us that if a urrent will corrode a pound of iron n an hour, 100 such currents will issolve 100 pounds of iron in the ame time. So that, should there be 00 breaks in the electrical circuit ver the bridge, the currents might be eating away 100 pounds of iron hat suports the bridge ever hour. This is a terrifying suggestion, but he professor makes it with the cool- ess of a professional man, and eaves the remedy to some one else. He says it is not probable that this is aking place, but he will not deny hat such a catastrophe is within the bounds of possibility. The chief dif- 'erence between professor's scare and many others that have been set oing is that Professor Sheldon gives scientific reasons for the awful pos- sibilities he suggests. DESTRUCTIVE ELECTROLYSIS. "Vagabond currents" are said threaten the safety of the Brookly bridge. Prof. Samuel Sheldon, th expert electrician, of the Polytechni institute, has ben conducting a serie of experiments in Brooklyn to deter mine the effect of electrolysis upo iron pipes under ground. Incidental ly he talks about the Brookly bridge. He says there is unques is also certain that the public will not take kindly to such a proposi- this city and He will leave here at 7 o'clock in the tion. Those who travel a great deal I morning. can buy mileage books at the rate Martin Hengsteler, the blacksmith of two cents per mile, and of course t who had a leg broken at the Bass they would object to any change he people who take only occasional expects to resume work there about ourneys to some of the many pleas- beginning of the new year, re resorts, would not travel at all' Huntington News Democrat: they had to pay two and a half "Machinist Chenowith's mother, cents a mile. Some of the states Mrs. J. T. Chenowith. has gone to ave a two cent per mile rate, es- Fort Wayne on a visit and from ablished by the legislature. These there will go to Leo, wheie she is ould not be affected by the Van-' making her home temporarily with erbilt plan only so far as special' son, Rev. J. F. Chenowith." xcursion rates go. Machinist Adolph Wichman, who I has been employed r.t the works of the Western Gas Construction com- pany for the past two years, resigned Supt. J. B. McKim went east last light to' join other officials in the rack inspection of the northwestern ystem of the Pennsylvania lines. ?he trip will occupy a week and very portion of the system will be j nspected except the western divi- ion of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago, which is in fine condi- ion and not in need of inspection. COMPLETED TO CONVERSE. The track of the Chicago, Indiana and Eastern railway was completed nto Converse last Friday. The line las been in course of construction jetween Swayzee, Grant county, and Converse for six months, and the grading was completed in August. Lately it was impossible to obtain steel rails and the track-laying was suspended two miles from Converse until ten days ago. when sixty men were put to work. The trains of the company will be running regularly between Matthews, the eastern terminus, and Converse by Novem- ber 15. BIDDING ON NEW DEPOT. Some of Fort Wayne's contractors were engaged today in revising am filing bids upon the construction o a new depot building for the Grand Rapids and Indiana company to be located at LaGrange, Ind. The build ing will cost in the neighborhood o and while not very large will be modernly equipped and finely finished. Bids must all be in by 6 o'clock this evening. Among th contractors who have filed bids ar John Suelzer and William Gallmeier TWO FAST RUNS. On Saturday, the 14th inst., train No. 9, the fast mail on the Wabash made the run from Tilton. to Granit City, a distance of 176.6 miles, in 167.5 minutes, an average speed o 63.3 miles an hour; and on the 17t! inst., the same train made the sam run in 164.5 minutes, an averag speed of 64.4 miles per hour. Thes trains, consisting of four cars each were pulled from Tilyton to Decatu by Baldwin engine No. 601, in charge of Engineer Thomas Boyl and Fireman F. W. Ghere, and from Decatur to Granite City they wer pulled by Baldwin engine No. 602 in charge of Engineer James E Rathbone and Fireman Charles Fair banks. TWO AND A HALF CENT FARE The Vanderbilt passenger men ar working in the direction of a pas senger rate that shall be universal Their plan is to charge two and half cents per mile; to abolish ex cursion fares of nil kinds; to d away with half fares, and to sel round-trip tickets only at doubl the face value of one-way tickets Passenger agents of some of the oth er roads will oppose the plan and it hat would increase their traveling xpenses, while the great bulk of works three months ayo. is out on crutches and paid the shop wherein he was hurt a visit Saturday. He TRACK INSPECTION. IN NEED OF MEN. James O'Leary, section foieman of the Pittsburg, is badly in need of aborers and has been looking in vain all day for them. He is en- aged in filling up the big ditch east of Broadway and north of the tracks and can use fifteen or twenty men there. The dirt used in the fill comes from Middlepoint, Ohio. RECORD BREAKING BUSINESS. Last Saturday the men employed in the Wabash warehouse exceeded all pievious records in the way oi freight handled. On that day they lendled sixty-three car loads of mer- chandise, by far the greatest volume of freight handled at the warehouse in any single day previous to that date. Presuming that each car was loaded to its full capacity (and many are overloaded) the aggregate of the goods handled by these men last Saturday reached the enormous fig- ure of tons, a load for the largest locomotives ever in Fort Wayne. By the way, this city has always contributed her full share to the business of the Wabash road and it is presumed that the management are cognizant of this fact and will reciprocate whenever it is in their power to do so. The building of a connecting line with the Detroit branch and the establishment of a division point here would about square matters. It will be done some time, no doubt. took a position with Belden will, the electric lanvo manufacturers. President Hill, of the Great Northern, low rates for colonists will be made on his road "as long as there is room for another farmer to settle in the northwest." The Northern Pacific will not advance its rates before the Great Northern does. Of course, anybody desiring to go to a North Pacific coast point can take advant- age of the "colonist" rate, regard- less of the object of his journey. The Lake Shore and the Lake Erie and Western roads yesterday handled their share of the theatrical business of this section, there being five or six troupes over those lines. The Jolly Musketeer company, with two coaches and two baggage cars, was brought down from Jackson and turned over to the Wabash, en route to Lafayette. Other troupes carried were the "Little Minister" company and the Willard Newall company. The latter shows at the Temple this week. Excursion lates at a fare and one- third for the round trip have been granted by the Central Passenger sasociation roads for the following occasions: Woman's Foreign Mis- sionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, Cleveland, Ohio, Octobfi 20 to November 2, from nil Ceutral Passenger association points; Grant Family association. Hartford, Conn., October 27, fiom all Ceutial Passenger association points. A nuiab'r of the Pittsburg shop- men who had been on the absentee list because of sickness resumed work this morning. Among them were J. O'Neil. A. Krueckenbeig, M. Shin- Itiii, Fied Lens, Charles Sosseuheimer and Charles J. Noll. The following new names appeared on the absentee list this morning: W. Buuck and J. Reidel. sick; J. Hebert, looking after private business; J. 0. Langston, gone to country to see some of his folks who are sick, and C ha lies Dunn, moving. says a location will be selected in the eastern part of the city, aud by I November 15 work will com- menced upon a building about 50x150 feet for the use of the new company. The distillery will at the outset a capacity of about five barrels a day, and will be increased as the business warrants. It is ex- pected the first output of the dis- tillery will be completed in Febru- ary. MRS. RIJNHART COMING. Mrs. Susie Rijnhart. wife of the intrepid missionaiy who is believed to have lost his life carrying the gospel into the wilds of Thibet, will arrive in Fort Wayne Wednesday to remain with fiSends for one week. The thrilling experieinces of Rev. and Mrs. Rijnhart are in a measure familiar to newspaper readers, and have excited the widest sympathy of the public. During hei stay in Fort Wayne Mis. Rijnhart will speak of her missionary work, and announcement of her adcli esses will be made in due time. DOG IS A HEAVYWEIGHT. Lorenzo Haiber, who conducts t grocery on High street, is the proud possessor of what is probably the laigest and heaviest canine in the city. The animal is a Russian St. Bernard, almost white, and arrived Saturday from Peoria, 111. Mr. Hai- ber weighed the dog, and solemnly avers that he tips the beam at pounds. CASTOR IA For Children. The Kind You Have Always BMfht Bears the Signature of Buy pure Apple Jelly and Apple Butter at Cl-ier Mill, 29 North Har- rison St. 20t3 WILL START A DISTILLERY. The S. A. Stein company, which filed articles of incorporation at In- dianapolis on Saturday, will in a short time begin the erection of a distillery in this city. At the head of the enterprise is S. A. Stein, who has been conducting a wholesale liquor establishment in Fort Wayne for some time, but the new proposi- tion is entirely separate from the present business. The capital stock of the new company is and a number of Cin-.lnr. ".j.iis- ville capitalists tire interested with Mr. Stein in the project. Mr. Stein LADIES' GARMENTS A specialty. See the line of Ladies' Cloths. We make them to measure. G. Schmidt, 57 E. Berry St. 27tf Fieldblatt, at 76 Barr street, pays good prices for old clothes. S7tf W. C. CLEARY, MERCANT TAILOR. A fine line of fancy Suitings. Call r nil sae my line of Fall NO. 11 W. WASHINGTON ST. 18-tf INDUSTRIAL NOTES. Pittsburg Fireman J. F. Gaskins is sick and off duty. A. Z. Polhamus left last night for Philadelphia on business for the S, F. Bowser company. Vice President and General Man- ager Joseph Ramsey, of the Wabash, is in New York, where the Wabash directors held a meeting today. W. C. Kerr, of the Nickel Plate of- fices, is enjoying a vacation. He will visit relatives at Indianapolis and elsewhere in central Indiana. J. Seibold. who has resigned a posi- tion in the Pittsburg shops to go to Allegheny to work, is visiting his father a few days in Hartford City. Thence he will go to his new home, The Fort Wayne Electric company today sent a car load of supplies to Valley Junstion, where a plant will be installed soon. The dynamos will leave the works for that place in a few days. Machinist W. H. Hobrock, who was temporarily sent to Allegheny to as- sist in starting the new Pennsylva- nia company's brass moulding es- tablishment, has returned here and resumed his old place in the com- pany's shops. Division Freight Agent William Borner, who made an inspection trip over the western part of the Fort Wnyne line last week, will tomorrow inspect that portion of the road be- A CAKELESS CAKEWALK. Shake yo' choc'late feet, Amandy, Walk yo' very best', I ain't got no cane er nothin', Yo's got no fine dress. All I ask yo', dear Amantly, Give yo'self a shake, Jes' let's walk f er love of walkin'. We don't want no cake. Globe, We apologize to the many people who found it impossible to get served last Saturday, standing our heavy force of 20 extra salesmen, but call again as the stock of Fine Clothing, Hats and Furnishings, while going so fast, is one of the finest and most complete in FortWayne, but must be sold as quickly as possible. See our Windows tor new Up-to-date styles at selling out prices. for Rent and for Sale. Ml parlies indebted to us will please call and settle their accounts. No more goods charged, sent out on approval, money refunded or exchanged. A. K. HURST CO.